Muzaffarabad: Director of the Kashmir Policy Research Institute (KPRI), Dr. Raja Mohammad Sajjad Khan has stated that the Modi government’s unilateral actions on August 5, 2019, have not changed the international community’s recognition of Jammu and Kashmir as a disputed territory.

According to Kashmir Media Service, Dr. Sajjad Khan addressed officers of the Senior Management Course visiting Azad Jammu and Kashmir from Islamabad, emphasizing that India’s revocation of Kashmir’s special status aimed at altering the region’s demographic balance by reducing the Muslim majority to a minority. He referred to the revocation of Articles 370 and 35A as a violation of United Nations resolutions, asserting that India’s occupation of Jammu and Kashmir remains illegal. Dr. Khan reiterated that the Kashmiri population has never accepted, and will not accept, Indian occupation.

Dr. Khan highlighted that nearly a million Indian troops are stationed in Kashmir to uphold this illegal occupation. He pointed out that the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) allows Indian troops unchecked powers, resulting in widespread human rights abuses in the occupied territory. Despite these measures, Dr. Khan stated that India has been unable to quash the Kashmiri people’s demand for freedom.

Furthermore, Dr. Khan emphasized the role of KPRI as the first think tank in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, established to encourage research in the region. The institute produces comprehensive research on various aspects of the Kashmir dispute and offers internship programs for university students to enhance their understanding of the conflict. He noted the significant development progress in Azad Jammu and Kashmir since 1947, transforming from an underdeveloped region to one making strides in multiple sectors.